Lots of us face the problem of having no idea what type of job they’re looking for, making searching for a new role stressful and time consuming. When you’re faced with thousands of jobs to read through and not knowing what it is you’re looking for, you can find yourself feeling lost and overwhelmed. Here are 6 questions you should be asking yourself when looking for your next role to help you narrow down your search and choose a career path that best suites you.
1. What skills and qualifications do you already have?
Have a think about what skills and qualifications you already have. Some of your skills may be better suited towards one industry over another. However, remember that this is not concrete and if you want to enter an industry that requires different skills or qualifications there are ways you can acquire them, such as taking a course or volunteering.
2. What are you interested in?
Lots of people make the mistake of searching for jobs that they have no interest in, because they don’t know what it is they’re looking for. If you have a hobby or particular topic you’re interested in try and centre your job search in that area. If you have an interest in the field you’re working in it will help to maintain your motivation, improve the quality of your work and ensure job satisfaction.
3. What type of personality do you have?
Your personality can help you to determine the right type of role for you. If you’re an introvert, you’re likely the type of person who likes to work in a quiet environment and may enjoy a more research based role. Alternatively, if you’re an extrovert you will be better suited to a more vibrant and faster paced work atmosphere and find you enjoy roles that have high levels of interaction.
4. What do you want from a career?
Everyone is looking for something different from their career. Decide what it is that is most important to you, this can range from money, career progression opportunities, to the location of the job. Prioritising what it is that you want from a role will help to narrow down the types of jobs you search for and the companies you want to work for.
5. Do you want a lot of responsibility?
The amount of responsibility you have will change depending on the role. If you’re someone who likes to ‘switch off’ when they go home at night then a role with a lot of responsibility may not be what you’re looking for.
6. What don’t you want out of a job?
Only knowing what you want out of a career doesn’t always give you a clear indication of what type of role you should be looking for. Identifying what it is that you don’t want too can narrow down your job search significantly and save you wasting time looking through jobs that you would hate.
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